Smoked Sausage Casserole

Smoked sausage casserole is one of the best pantry-staple recipes out there. It has everything you need for classic comfort food, including pasta, protein, creamy sauce, cheese and crunchy French-fried onions. When baked together, the casserole becomes bubbly, melty and ridiculously delicious. One secret weapon when it comes to making this casserole is condensed cream of celery soup. It adds the flavor and silkiness you want in a baked pasta dish without the pressure of creating a roux or cream sauce from scratch (after all, casseroles with condensed soups are a family mealtime favorite). Make this one for a casual weeknight dinner or a potluck—it’s sure to get serious raves.

Smoked Sausage Casserole Ingredients

• Smoked sausage: Use your favorite brand of smoked pork or beef sausage. Because smoked sausage is precooked, it heats through in just five minutes in a skillet.
• Cheeses: The recipe calls for a generous amount of shredded cheddar and mozzarella cheeses. The combination lends this dish savory flavor and an extra melty texture. Remember to grate your own cheese for better melting than you get from bagged shredded cheese.
• Penne pasta: The cheesy sauce clings well to short, sturdy pasta shapes such as penne, elbows, rotini, ziti, or shells.
• Milk: The recipe works best with 2% or whole milk added to the cheese sauce.
• Cream of celery soup: Condensed cream of celery soup thickens the sauce and adds flavor. You can use condensed cream of mushroom or cream of cheddar soup as a substitute.
• French-fried onions: I love a crunchy topping on cheesy casseroles, and french-fried onions are the perfect choice for this smoked sausage dish. The recipe calls for cheddar fried onions, but if you can’t find them, regular French-fried onions are just as delicious.

Directions

Step 1: Make the sausage and pasta

Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, brown the sausage over medium heat for five minutes. Drain any liquid from the pan..

Editor’s Tip: For better browning, slice the sausage on a bias, or at an angle, to create a larger surface on each piece that will get browned in the skillet. Those browned areas are packed with flavor!

Step 2: Combine with the sauce

In a large bowl, combine the milk and condensed soup. Stir in 1/2 cup of french-fried onions, 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese, 1/2 cup of cheddar cheese and the sausage. Drain the pasta and stir it into the sausage mixture.

Step 3: Bake and add topping

Transfer the mixture to a greased 3-quart baking dish. Cover and bake it at 375°F until it’s bubbly, 25 to 30 minutes. Sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup of french-fried onions, 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese and 1/2 cup of cheddar cheese. Bake the casserole, uncovered, until the cheese melts, three to five minutes longer.

Editor’s Tip: Use 13×9-inch baking pans for this casserole for best results. You could also divide it between two 8-inch square dishes.

Smoked Sausage Casserole Variations

• Make it spicy: Add heat to this cheesy casserole by using spicy sausage (like andouille or chorizo), adding crushed red pepper flakes to the cheese sauce, stirring in chopped jalapenos, or using a spicy cheese like pepper jack or habanero cheddar.
• Use little smokies: Instead of regular smoked sausage, use little smokies cut in half.
• Add veggies: Readers suggest that sauteed spinach, peas and carrots are tasty additions to this smoked sausage casserole. Other vegetables to try are cooked corn, diced green beans and chopped, sauteed bell peppers.

How to Store Smoked Sausage Casserole

Leftover smoked sausage casserole is just as delicious when reheated the next day. Let the casserole cool completely. Cover the baking dish with storage wrap, or transfer the casserole to tightly covered food storage dishes. Store the casserole in the refrigerator for up to four days.

Can you freeze smoked sausage casserole?

Yes, you can freeze smoked sausage casserole, whether baked or unbaked, for up to three months. Cover the pan tightly with storage wrap and aluminum foil before freezing it.

How should you reheat smoked sausage casserole?

Unbaked casseroles should be allowed to thaw for 30 minutes at room temperature before being baked. Allow an extra 20 minutes or so for the first baking step to give it time to heat through and bubble. A baked, frozen casserole can be covered and reheated in a 350°F oven, or you can reheat individual portions in the microwave.

Smoked Sausage Casserole Tips

Can you use another type of sausage for this recipe?

One of the best things about this casserole is its versatility. You can use any type of precooked sausage, including smoked sausages made from pork, beef, chicken or turkey. Chicken sausages are available in a wide array of flavors that work well in this recipe, with ingredients like sun-dried tomatoes, garlic and red pepper. Kielbasa is delicious in this dish, as is Portuguese linguica, Spanish chorizo or spicy Italian sausage. Many plant-based meat brands have sausages, too, so you can make this casserole to enjoy on a meat-free Monday.

What can you serve with smoked sausage casserole?

With plenty of cheese, pasta and sausage, this is a filling dish and an instant comfort food classic. Keep the sides simple and serve smoked sausage casserole with slices of buttery garlic bread or olive and onion bread. Try it with a simple green salad or spiced roasted carrots, or keep the smoked theme going with smoky baked cauliflower.